Starting and closing means for doors



Nov 29, 1927. 1,651,064

S. F. KLQHS STARTING AND CLOSING MEANS FOR DOORS Filed Nov. 24, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 29, 1927.

5. F. KLOHS STARTING AND CLOSING MEANS FOR DOORS Filed Nov. 24, 1924 S-She etS -Sheet 2 Nov. 29, 1927, 1,651,064

S. F. KLOHS STARTING AND CLOSING MEANS FOR DOORS Filed Nov. 24/2 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 29, 1927.

S. F. KLOHS STARTING AND CLOSING MEANS FOR DOORS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed NOV. 24, 1924 /Ezienfor M 1522772 Nov. 29, 1927. 1,651,064

5. F. KLOHS STARTING AND CLOSING MEANS FOR noons Filed Nov. 24, .1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 29, 1927.

UNETED STA TES PATENT OFFICE.

SAM F. KLOHS, OF LARKINS, FLORIDA, ASSIGNOR TO CAMEL COMPANY, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

STARTING AND CLOSING MEANS FOR DOORS.

Application filed November 24, 1924. Serial No. 751,777.

extent than is usually afforded by the usual sliding door. For this purpose, supplemental doors are usually provided to increase the door opening. As a rule, these supplemental doors are usually provided with a j amb or post at their front edge. This jamb is adapted to be anchored to the floor of the car so that the supplemental door may serve as a part of the car wall when the car' is used for purposes not necessitating an increased door opening. In the past it has been more or less diflicult to operate these supplemental doors especially .in bringing them to closed position and starting them from their closed position. Further in the prior constructions, there was always more or less looseness, and not sufficient rigidity to make a durable and tight construction adapted for hauling finely divided lading.

It is an object of this invention to over come such defects, and this is accomplished in the provision of a supplementary car door equipped with means orbringing or assisting in bringing the same to a tight closed position and for starting or assisting in starting the same when it is bein opened, and which is rigidly secured to tig tly close the door opening without weakening the car structure.

It is a further object of this inventionto provide a construction in which the supplemental door is automatically drawn inwardly by novel means as it is being closed, and

in which the door is automatically locked or unlocked by the operation of the closing and starting means.

It is also an object of this invention to generally improve the structure of such supplemental doors and the operation and securement thereof whereby all the advantages of the supplemental door are retained without sacrificing any of the advantages or uses of such a box car.

With these and other objects in view which will become more apparent in the following description and disclosures, this invention comprises the novel structure and combinations of parts hereinafter described fined in the appende and more particularl pointed out and declaims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of this invention and in whichsimilar reference numerals refer to similar features in the different views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of a box car showing the main and supplemental doors in closed position.

Figure 2 is a sectional view upon the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary interior elevational view of the supplementary door, the fulllines indicating the mechanism in its locked position and the dotted lines in its unlocked position; the side plate of the car being shown in section.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary interior elevational view of the supplementary car door, the full lines showing the combined locking and operatin mechanism in its locked position and the dotted lines illustrating it in its unlocked position, the floor of the car being shown in section.

Figure 5 is an enlarged and broken rear end elevational view of the supplemental door showing the adjacent car parts in section, with parts omitted.

Figure 6' is an enlarged fragmentaryinterior elevational view of the jamb on the supplemental door. I

Figure 7 is an enlarged end elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary interior elevationallview of the lower portion of the supplementary car door.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a plan view of the upper locking plate.

Figure 11 is a plan View of the lower looking or rack plate.

As shown on the drawings:

Referring now to the drawings which illustrate one embodiment of this invention, it will be observedthat there is shown in Figures 1 and 2 an ordinary box car provided with an extended or enlarged door opening which is closed by a main sliding door 1 doors may be of any stan ard construction and may be hung in anyv approved manner.

The rear ends of these doors are. shown as provided with rear edge angles 3 which cooperate with angle strips 4 on the door osts to form a tight weather jointwhen the oors are closed.

The supplemental door'2 carries, a jamb at its forward end consisting of a vertical angle 5 having one flange secured to the door with the other flange projecting inwardly and a wooden post 6 secured to the last mentioned flange. The inwardly extending flange and post 6 extend beyond the front edge of the door as showniin Fi re 2 to form a lateral support for the main 001' l in its closed position. The post 6 is herrower than the end posts and is brought lower end of the angle bar 5. This castin groove 17 forward of said tooth.

-is so designed that it fits within the angle 0 the bar as shownin Figure 5. This casting is provided upon one face with a pair of spaced parallel bearing ribs or flan es 10 between which a lower detent mem er or cog wheel 11 and a cooperating actuating lever 12 are rotatably journalled by suitable spindles 13. Thehub of the lever 12 has a plurality of cogs or teeth 14 for actuating the cog wheel 11. The cog wheel 11 cooper- -ates with a rack plate 15 secured upon the floor of the car adjacent the closing point of the doors.v The rear end of the rack plate has a. tooth or ridge 16 and a depression or The forward end of the rack plate is provided with a raised portion therefor 18. The inner mar in of the rack plate is biased as indi cate at 19. The biased position slopes inwardly in a forward direction and is undercut as shown in Figure 9. for cooperation with an undercutgroove 20 in an overhanging horizontal extension of one of the hearing flanges 10. The rack plate 15 is preferably anchored to the side sill of the car by bolts 21. it will be obvious that as the door slides forwardly into closing position, the groove 20 will engagethe biased edge of the rack plate and draw the door inwardly.

It is frequently more or less dificult to the door to tight close and retain it in such position. However, the above described mechanism will accomplish this. Assuming that the supplemental door has been, slid forwardly entil the cog wheel enmay grasp the lever gages thej tooth 16', if the cog wheel will not automatically rotate over aid tooth into the loomin positior. shown in Figure 8, the operator may actuate the lever 12 and rotate the cog wheel over such tooth. Then when it is desired to open the door, the operator elevate the some,

thereby rotating the cog wheel over the tooth 16 and startin the door towards its open position. Whi e I have shown but a single tooth on the rack plate, it is obvious that others may be added if necessary. In the closing and opening mechanism for the door,

but also locking mechanism therefor.

The jamb of the supplemental door is not only locked at the bottom, it is also looked at the top by mechanism connected to and operable by the'lever 12. To this end, a

housing or casting 22 is secured upon the 7 upper end of the angle bar 5. This casting is provided with flanges 23 and 24 bolted to the flanges of the angle bar, and a flange 25.

extending parallel to the flange 23. The flanges 23 and 25 are provided with bearin a. ertures for supporting short shafts 26 an 2? The outer margins of the flanges 23 and 25 are preferably connected by an mtegral web 28 which extends a short distance over the top of the casting leaving, however, a sufiicient openin for a locking detent as will later more ful y appear. 1

A locking detent 29 is supported upon the shaft 27 for pivotal movement. This detent-has a nose 29 that is adapted for projection through the opening in the to of the casting for engaging an aperture 30 Figure 10) in a stop plate 31 secured in a de ression or mortise 1n the side plate of the oorway.

This plate 31 is provided with a depending stop flange or abutment 31 as shown in Figures 3 and 10. The lower surface of the detent slopesdownwardly from the hub on the pivot shaft 27 as indicated at 32 (Figure 6).

ed intermediate its ends upon the shaft 26.

This cam lever is of slightly arcuate form, and its upper end is rounded for slidably en-' the cog wheel 11 is materially actuated for opening the door. This is evident from an inspection'of Figure 8. However, when the door is closed, the lever 12 is in elevated position as shown in Fi ure 5, so that the cam lever 3e is notbrought into action with the detent untilthe final downward movemeiit I This sloping portion terminates in an abrupt head 33. A cam lever 34 is rotatably mountof the lever 12. Consequently, even thong? there is a simultaneous operation of the loc ing and starting mechanism, the locking detent will be releasedbefore the. cog wheel is materially moved vfor starting the door, and likewise, the door will be substantially closed before the detent 29 is elevated to locking position. A rod is pivoted at its upper end in a bifurca'tion'in the lower end of the cam lever. The lower end of said rod is pivoted to the aforementioned lever 12 whereby actuation of said lever will oscillate the cam lever 34 for raisin or lowering the locking detent 29. A shield 36 secured to the inwardly extending flange of the angle 5 and the supplemental door encases the operating mechanism between the lower castin 9 and the upper casting 22. l

n referring to Figures 3 and 4, especially to the full line position of the operating mechanism. it will be observed that a tooth on the lever 12 is positioned between two teeth of-the cog wheel when the same is in looking position. In this position, the detent 29 is in looking position and is retained in such position as above set forth and also by the rod 35 and lever 12, the latter of which is restrained from further downward movement by the cog. wheel '11 which is at its forward limit of movement due to the door being closed. In such position, the supplemental door is securely locked and may form a part of the car wall when the same is used for other purposes. 1

If it is now desired .to open the supplemental door, the operator raises the lever 12 into the dotted line position. This operation will oscillate the upper cam lever 34 into inoperative position as indicated in dottedlines and allow the detent 29 to drop out of looking engagement with the plate 31, and at the same time this operation will rotate the cog wheel 11 over the tooth 16 into the position shown in dotted lines. This rotation of the cog wheel will naturally start the door and shift the same into the dotted line position shownin' Figure 4. It will hence be apparent that the door is automaticall started from its closed position when un ocked.

Now assuming that the supplemental door is open and it is desired to close the same; theoperator will push the same to closing position. If sufficient force can be imparted to the door to cause the cog wheel to rotate over the rack plate, the door will be brought to a tight close and at the same time the lever 12 will be lowered for elevating the.detent 29 into locking engagement. If sufiicient force cannot be imparted to the door to force the cog wheel 11 over the rack plate, the operator is at liberty to actuate the lever 12 and rot'te the cog wheel over'the rack plate. This actuation of the lever will be downward and will rotate the cam lever 34 to operative position for elevating the detent position.

It should be understood, that while I have illustrated my invention in connection with a supplemental car door, it is susceptible of use on any sliding door for starting, closing and locking the same; and while I am aware that many changes may be made, and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from. the principles of this invention, I do not propose limiting the patent granted thereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art or appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a railroad car having a main door and a supplemental door, a jamb carried by said supplemental door, a lower toothed locking plate having an inclined edge, a rotatable detent member carried by said jamb for cooperating with said plate, a pivoted toothed member for actuating said detentmember, means on said jamb for engaging said inclined edge for drawing the door inwardly, an upper apertured locking plate, a detent on said jamb for engaging in the aperture of said plate, operating means for said detent and a connection between said operating means 'and said pivoted toothed member.

2. In a railway car having an extended door opening with a main door for closing a part of said opening, a supplemental door for closing the remainder of said opening,

said supplemental door having. a jamb at its forward end, a rotatable cog wheel at"the lower end of said jamb, lever mechanism for rotating and locking said cog wheel, and a rack plate upon the car sill for cooperation with said cog wheel.

3. In a railwa carhaving an extended door-opening wit a main door for closing a part of said opening, a supplemental door for closing the remalnder of said opening,

said supplemental door having a jamb at its forward edge, upper and lower locking mechanisms for said jamb, means for simultaneously operating said mechanisms, and a rack plate upon the car adapted'for cooperation with one of said mechanisms for the-purpose set forth.

4. In a railway car having an extended door opening with a main sliding door for closing a part of said opening, a supplemental sliding door for closing the remainder of said opening, said supplemental door having a jamb at its forward edge, upper and lower locking mechanisms for said amb, means for simultaneously operating said mechader of said door way, said supplemental door tion.

carrying startingand closing mechanism engageable with said car and adapted for locklng said .supplemental door in closed posi- 6. The combination with a car having a door opening, a pair of sliding doors for closing said opening, one of said doors carrying a amb at its forward end, interconnected locking meanscarried by said jamb for securing the upper and lower ends thereof,'a portionof said means co-operating with the adjacent car structure for closing and opening said last mentioned door during the actuation of said means. I

7. In a car having an extended door opening with amain sllding door for closin a part of said opening, a supplemental sliding door for closing the remainder of said opening, said supplemental door having a jamb at its forward end, upper and lower pivoted locking members carried by said amb, interconnected actuatable devices for operating said members, and a stationary element cooperating with one of said members for causin a shifting movement of'said supplementa door during the actuation of said devices. p

8. In a car having an opening, a pair of sliding doors mounted in said opening, one of said doors having upper and lower locking members, means for simultaneously actuatin said members, and a stationary rack plate or cooperation with one of said members for causing a shifting of said last mentioned door for the purpose set forth.

9. In a car having a door opening, a main sliding door and a supplemental sliding door. for closing said opening, a j amb on the front end of said supplemental door, a stationary rack plate having a bias portion, a depending .element carried by' said jamb for engaging 'said bias portion, a rotatable cog wheel carried by said jamb for engaging said rack plate, and a lever on said jamb having means engageable with said cog wheel for rotating the same and causin a shifting of said supplemental door, said lever serving to lock said cog wheel in a'predetermined position.

10. In a car having a door'opening, a main sliding door and a supplemental sliding door for closin said opening,'a jamb carried by said supp emental door, a locking detent carried by one end of sald jamb, a rotatable door opening and closing element carried by the other end of said jamb, a stationary rack member for cooperation with said eleoperatin'g said detent and element, said means serving to lock said element and detent when said supplemental door is closed.

11. A supplemental door for cars, said door having a jamb at its front end, a pivoted locking detent at one end of said jamb, a pivoted cam for operating said detent, a rotatable cog wheel carried by the other end of said jamb, a pivoted lever having teeth for engaging said wheel and a connection between said cam and lever whereby actuation of said lever will elevate said detent and cause said lever to interlock with said wheel.

12. In a railway car having a door opening with a main sliding door for closing a part of said opening, a supplemental door for closing the remainder of said opening, a jamb carried by said supplemental door, a pivoted locking member supported upon one end of the jamb, a rotatable cog wheel upon the other end of the jamb, a rack plate supported by the car for cooperation with said cogswheel, a pivoted lever having teeth and mounted on said amb foractuating said cog wheel and means operated by said lever for controlling said locking member.

13. The combination with a sliding door, of starting and closing mechanism therefor comprising a rotatable cog wheel, a. station ary rack plate for cooperation therewith, a pivoted toothed lever for actuating and locking said cog wheel, a pivoted locking detent, a cam lever for actuating said detent, and a connection between said cam lever and toothed lever for. the purpose described.

14. The combination with a car hav' a door opening, of a sliding door for closing said opening, locking means for said door, starting means for said door, and an operable connection between said locking means and starting means whereby. said locking means is released prior to the eflective operation of said starting mechanism for opening said door.

.15. The combination with a sliding door, of starting and closing mechanism therefor, and a separate locking member automatically released at the initial movement of said mechanism for opening said door.

16. The combination with a door, of opening and closing mechanism therefor, and a separate locking member automatically released at the initial opening movement of said mechanism and automatically moved to lockin positionat the final closing movement 0 said mechanism.

17 The combination with a slidi door, of starting and closing mechanism t erefor comprising a stationary element, a rotat able element for cooperation with said stationary element, means for operating said rotatable element, a locking member, and opcrating means for said locking member efiective for releasing said locking member at the initial opening movement of said starting mechanism.

18. The combination with a sliding door, of locking mechanism therefor, starting and closing mechanism for the door, and a connection between said starting mechanism and locking 'mechanism including a cam lever for releasing said locking mechanism at the initial operating of starting mechanism.

' 19. The combination with a car having a "door opening, of a door for closing said opening, starting and closing mechanism for the door, a locking member for the door, and means operated by said starting and closing mechanism for releasing said locking memher from looking position prior to the efiective operation of said mechanism for moving said door.

20. The combination with a sliding door, of starting and closing mechanism therefor comprising a rotatable cog wheel, a stationary rack plate for co-operation therewith, a toothed lever for actuating said cog wheel, a locking member, and means operated by Zaid lever for controlling said locking mem- 21. The combination with a sliding door, of starting and closing mechanism therefor comprising a rotatable cog wheel, astationary rack for cooperation therewith, means for operating said cog wheel, alocking member and a connection between said means and device for controlling said locking member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

SAM F. KLOHS. 

